26,27and 28th Feb

26th
Indian Airforce struck at terrorist camps in Pakistan early morning today.. A large number of terrorists are reported to have been killed.
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
27th
Pakistan Airforce counterattacked. They lost one jet and India also lost one. Pakistan captured one Indian pilot.
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
28th
Tension remains in the two countries.
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
Quotable Quotes:"The world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong." Swami Vivekananda

23, 24 and 25th Feb

23rd(Saturday)
Attended Arsipso Annual lunch at BSF officers mess. About 50 members and some lady wives also joined in. Venita could not come. She is yet to get over fatigue of Kumbh visit.
We sent a bouquet of flowers to Subhash's younger brother on his 70th birthday. He is sick for years now and is lodged in a healthcare home at Gurugram. He was a brilliant and knowledgeable officer. Something happened and he was disturbed. He could not come out of it.
24th(Sunday
25th
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
As the roads and streets near and around India Gate are to be restricted for vehicular movement due to visit of PM for inauguration of National War Memorial at 6 pm, we are advised to avoid the venue as far as possible to prevent getting embroiled in traffic jams. The construction of the Memorial was long pending since Independence. Construction of National Police Memorial was completed and later inaugurated by the PM last year after ceaseless efforts for the same for years by us.
Quotable Quotes :"Where can we go to find God if we cannot see H im in our own hearts and in every living being." Swami Vivekananda

20, 21, and 22nd Feb.

20th
Venita had bath in Ganga today morning. She left the camp and returned to  her brother's place in the afternoon. From 17 to 20th Feb she took bath 5 times including one in Sangam. She believes that five dips in Ganga during the season will give him more blessings.
Kalpwasi who came to live on the bank of Ganga in the month of  Magh too started leaving. By the 4th March it will all be over finally.
21st
Venita visited her aunt and my sister's places today. She left for Delhi by Prayagraj at about 9.30 pm.
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
22nd
Venita reached Delhi early morning.
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
Quotable Quotes :"Arise! Awake! and stop not until the goal is reached." Swami Vivekananda

18 and 19th Feb

18th
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
A photo of Venita and Ganga taken at Kumbh mela, Prayagraj on 15th Feb 2019 by Sangita

A view of Ganga 

As it was not a main bathing day,Venita reached her brother's sister-in-law's camp on the bank of Ganga along with Shanno crossing checkposts. Their vehicle was ,however, stopped near the camp. They managed to cross it by name-dropping of an UP Minister who is a close relation of the camp owner. They had bath in the Ganga. While Venita stayed back, Shanno went back home. A day earlier  Shanno tried to come to the bank of Ganga with her daughter-in-law, son and grand children in their vehicle. They could not reach the bank due to traffic jams. One could walk to the bank or any corner of the Kumbh mela without hassles but travelling by vehicle was a problem. Vehicles of VIPs with car stickers and others could move without checks, but on main bathing days it was difficult for others.
The camp had star arrangements for stay, food etc. according to her. She visited nearby camps and joined Satsang and Ramkatha. In one camp there were only foreigners, mainly from Europe,USA. She retired to sleep at about 10 pm.
19th
She woke-up early and took bath. It was Maghi Purnima today, one of the main and last bathing days of the Mela. She noted it was 5.20 am when she took five dips in the Ganga. There was big crowd taking bath. It was not possible for her to go to Sangam with a 15 year old servant provided by her brother. She could take her 5 dips in Sangam on 17th (Dwadasi, an auspicious day) with the help of a boatmen whom she paid Rs1200. She believes  he had been sent by God for her Sangam dips.The boatman held her hand and walked over 5/6 boats to reach Sangam. He could not take his boat to Sangam due big gathering of people and boats, had to anchor it to another boat.
Mishti visited Pilku/Ruchi. Some photos sent by Barun are given below. Indians abroad are quite home sick. They like their folk to visit them .More so if they are relations.
                    Pilku with Amolikaa,Mishti and Abhishree

With Ruchi

In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
Quotable Quotes :" You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself." Swami Vivekananda

16 and 17th Feb

16th
Observed Ekadasi fast.
Yesterday Venita had a bird's eye view of Kumbh mela. She was accompanied by her brother and his wife. She was much impressed with the view and the arrangements.
Today she was to attend 'Satyanarain katha' in the camp of her brother's sister-in law,have dip in Sangam and lunch. Due to the visit of Vice President of India, there were quite a few traffic diversions and closures of some roads. She got into traffic jams. She could not reach the camp even after travelling over 6 hours. In normal times it takes not more than half an hour. The priest who was to recite 'katha' also reached quite late. She reached after katha/lunch were  over. She took lunch on way back in the market along with her brother and sister-in-law.
Pulwama fedayeen attack by a terrorist with a heavily RDX loaded car on a CRPF convoy on Jammu Kashmir highway killed 40 CRPF constables and other ranks yesterday and injured many others. Strong reactions to the incident are seen in the country.
17th.
Venita drove and reached the camp on the bank of Ganga  today without hassles and had dip in Sangam. She hired a boat all to herself. She was accompanied by a servant and her brother's driver. Brother and sister-in law,could not go. It was Dwadasi,an auspicious day.
Quotable Quotes :"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth." Buddha

11,12,13,14,15th Feb.

11th
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
12th
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
13th
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
14th
Venita left for Prayagraj in the night on week's visit for dips in Sangam. She will return Delhi on 22nd early morning.
15th
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
Quotable Quotes :"Losers make promises they often break. Winners make commitments they always keep." Denis Whitley

4,5,6,7,8 9 and 10th Feb.

4th 
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
5th
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
Shiva Mohan left for Fatehpur today. He took away over Rs.10000/-honorarium for stay of 2 months and 12 days at Delhi in addition to his regular salary at Fatehpur and tips from visitors/guests. We call him to Delhi whenever required. He is too keen to come to Delhi whenever we ask him to come. He is liked by all for his dedicated service. He knows lay-out of things at our flats,be it at Vikaspuri or Pilku/Ruchi's at VV.
6th
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
7th
Msc. work.
8th
Attended 2nd Friday batch contributory lunch of the month at Kasturba Gandhi road CSOI. Due to cold not many people came.
9th (Saturday)
It was quite cold today. Could take only one round of the park against 6/7 rounds daily due to cold. It was bone piercing Shillong type of cold.
Venita is quite keen to go to Allahabad (now Prayag) on the occasion of Ardh Kumbh for dip in Sangam. We are trying to arrange her journey to Prayag on 14th Feb so that she can take dips on 16th (Ekadasi) and 19th (Purnima) of the month. She will return Delhi on 23rd early morning by Prayagraj.
10th (Sunday)
It is as cold as it was yesterday. Could not take more than one round 0f the park.
Basant Panchmi is observed. today. Venita bought yellow flowers. She also cooked rice and coloured them with 'haldi','kesar' and yellow colour. These were offered to goddess of learning, Sarasvati with yellow berry, other yellow coloured fruits like orange and thereafter given to us all as Her prasad. Over 20 million people took dip at Sangam today.
Quotable Quotes :" Gestures, in love, are incomparably more attractive, effective and valuable than words." Francois Rabelais

1,2,and 3rd Feb

1st
In the Supreme court in the afternoon.
2nd (Saturday)
Rishi Kumar Shukla of 1983 batch of MP cadre is appointed new Director,CBI for 2 years. Apart from stints at various positions in MP, he had worked in the Intelligence Bureau, Govt.of India  too.
He is the senior most serving IPS police officer in the country at present. He is son-in-law of a hostel friend of Allahabad university, Dev Prakash Khanna, a retired IPS Officer of 1962 batch.
3rd (Sunday)
Venita returned VV from Vikaspuri in the afternoon.
Quotable Quotes :"A fashion is nothing but an induced epidemic." George Bernard Shaw